Wilds of Austins Ferry 2016

Today we're walking at Austins Ferry starting near Goulds Lagoon. Sally is our leader.

We park just off the  main road and as we suit up, I overhear Sally telling us that she's going to provide nature, railway, industry and an 'optional' hill. Now, that's a new category of hill to us. We shall see.

Goulds Lagoon Bird Sanctuary

We head off clockwise around the lagoon before heading off north for a little distance.

The lagoon has a viewing platform

 It has been a fair while since I've been in this area. I used to see the lagoon when I drove down the Main Road as the new highway didn't exist then.

A local cheering us on

We head to the Main Road, cross over and Sally keeps the first of her promises by taking us onto a railway.

We walk south along the tracks, the lagoon to our right

There's not much chance of being run over. Judging from the rust on the tracks it's been a while since any train traveled along here.

Main Road intersects the lagoon

View of Rose Hills

After a while we come to a turnoff leading through a gate.

Ron limbo dances his way through a convenient access hole in the gate

We now walk around the edge of a very dry paddock and head south along the banks of the Derwent River.

It's extremely dry out here

Paddock residents

I had a close look at these poor horses and they seem to be in reasonable shape so they must have access to water and food. Otherwise, there is nothing for them to do all day.  Not very good.

This is not accessible by the livestock and is the end of a small unnamed bay

It was close to here that we crawl through a gap in the wooden fence onto another track.

As we walk we come upon some industrial archeology and folk art.

Unused except by kids

 It's getting close to Morning Tea time.

I was afraid this was going to be seating for Morning Tea

Thank goodness it wasn't and we continued on to more deserted buildings.

This was a huge, empty warehouse. This area was the site of Risby's sawmill which Gunns closed in 2009.

This doesn't do justice to the size of the building

I assume this was for the offices

Spray painter debris

Inside the building

The bent steel support has been bent by something large hitting it above head height. I'm pretty sure it wasn't some kid on a skate board.

Out the other side we have a look around at all the remains of infrastructure foundations as we head back to the railway.

This looks like it was the sawmill itself. Just sitting and rusting

We walk along the tracks until we find a comfortable spot to sit for Morning Tea.

Morning Tea

Break finished, we take the track just behind us and head off.

Into the bush

If they were serious, they would fence it

We walk between a couple of houses and come out onto another track leading down to Austins Ferry Bay.

The things you find on a walk. Another Chinese tourist

Austins Ferry Bay with Mt. Direction in the distance

We walk past the yacht club to a small stone cottage. 

James Austin's cottage

Today that 30 shillings would be worth around 130 pounds

We're curious why this door is so high

 It could be interesting late at night.

You can read more of the interesting history of the area by Clicking Here.

Anyway, leaving the cottage behind we walk out and cross the Main Road, heading left down to Poimena reserve.

On the way we pass an old sandstone pillar and steps. Just behind is an old stone wall and I wondered what had been here in the past.

When James Austin died he had almost finished building Roseneath House which was inherited by his nephews, Solomon and Josiah, along with an inn.

During WWI the house served as a hospital for returning soldiers. The 1967 bushfires destroyed the house and it was pulled down. The inn fell down around 1880.

Roseneath House and Inn

WWI Hospital

After the 1967 bushfires

Back to the walk. We enter Poimena Reserve for a short comfort stop after which Sally tells us we're heading for the 'optional' hill and anyone that doesn't want to climb it can wait here.

Naturally everyone decides to continue on. After all, you can't complain about something if you haven't done it.

We walk up the open field and continue along a track beside Roseneath Rivulet.

Poimena Reserve

 I've tried to find the meaning of 'Poimena' and have had no luck. It might be ancient Greek or something you should put cream on.

 Just before we start on the track proper we come across the installation below.

Interesting

This is for disc golf, something I'm only dimly aware of. A quick look reveals plenty of websites devoted to it plus a Facebook page. This course was set up in 1985 and the Austin Ferry store carries a small supply of golf discs which seem to be different from your everyday Frisbee.

On we go, climbing now up a zig zag track.

Heading for the top and lunch

We come to the first level, it climbs up again past the water tank

Looking back, you can just see the DEC (Derwent Entertainment Centre) in the distance

Looking down from our final destination

There is a shelter and table at the top providing lunch with a view.

Looking across the Derwent towards Gunners Quoin

One of the Disc golf course holes and map

Mount Direction. We have walks there also

Lunch finished, we walk down beside the road, past the houses on Wakehurst Road. Crossing the Main Road again, we walk south then down to the railway line which we follow for a short distance.

We turnoff into a passage between houses and come out on Wyralla Court, crossing Merley Road onto an athletic  field. This has a concrete pitch and a derelict club house at one side, but appears to have no name.

We take a track on the other side past some old concrete steps and enter the scrub again.

Down Wakehurst Rd.

Following the railway before turning off

Into Wyralla Court

Across the old athletic field

Into the scrub

There are numerous tracks but Sally takes us behind St. Virgil's school and shows us an area that is a reflective space inspired by the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the site. It was built by the students and has an information sign that some cretin has spray painted over.

We walk on following a formed track through the bush passing remnants  of civilization.

I can only hope our spray painter was sitting on this at the time

We head around back to the railway track, but not before I find 60 cents in change lying on the ground. I can't say it enough, always keep your eyes open!

We follow a short cut back to the cars.

We had 12 walkers and covered 9.96km in 3:36hrs. It was a very interesting walk and not at all what I imagined. Thanks to Sally for taking us.

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Click here for animated track